Branding used to be a corporate marketing term that is valued by marketing professionals. However, the internet ha paved way for individuals to create their own brands, both knowingly and unknowingly.
Every post you make on social media builds your online identity, which is an extension of your real identity. Without intentionally doing so, you are creating your own personal brand. Look back on your online activities. Have you been cultivating a good identity? Does it reflect your actual personality and does it show you in your best light? When I meet someone for the first time, I tend to make a quick search on the internet about them, and I know the people I meet do the same to me. These are things that we should now be very conscious of.
Here are some tips on building your personal brand online.
Authenticity is key
Setting up an account online is an easy one minute task, but this does not mean that you should fabricate your life and identity online. Impressions have gone beyond a handshake and a smile these days, so there is more reason to be wary of how you present yourself both offline and online. Now more than ever, with the ease of providing information about people, the importance of authenticity and consistency to your actual persona is very vital. People will cross reference your online posts to the things they see in person, and if it does not check out, you will lose credibility in future opportunities. Be authentic and sincere. People can sniff out a fake.
Try to search yourself on online search engines. Do you like what you see? Are you able to build your brand properly online?
Filter and censor
The amount of matters you divulge online should be more carefully filtered, so that you only give away enough to make people get an overall idea of how you present yourself and make them want to learn more about you. Google yourself. Do you like what you see? A lot of people have an old bad fashion choice, crazy drunken night, or awkward family photo that they are embarrassed to show to the world but have somehow ended up in search results. Be easy on yourself. Take the necessary actions to pull down unwanted information from search engines, and if you can’t, pile on better and more credible information that is relevant to your present situation. Always remember that whatever you put online is part of your web footprint, so be more sensible on what you post and what you make public.
Create Your Own Top Search
Having a personal website or blog allows you to reach out to online audiences and create a global identity. Linking your name to a website can help you build a top search about you, especially if your name is unique. If it is a common name, secure a unique domain name – try a catchy and unique word that can be identified with you, or your middle name. If you are able to use your name throughout the pages, link your social media accounts, consistently post good content, and build an audience, the higher your page ranks in search engines.
Put Value to Your Brand
Keep people interested. Make sure that everything you post online, be it in social media, your personal page, or other people’s pages, is relevant and interesting. The whole concept of creating an online brand revolves around making a connection and having people relate to you, be it in your personal experiences or your ideas and beliefs. Post a question, a challenge, or a resolution. Share your journey in work or personal life. When posting anything online ask yourself first if it is something that would interest yourself.
Networking can start online, but when done in person, it strengthens your relationships and can give you bigger opportunities in the future.
Connect With Other Brands
Interaction and partnerships can help boost your online identity. Follow relevant and related sites, comment on their posts, and take the opportunity for partnerships or post exchanges. This will allow you to build an audience by joining a network of like-minded websites and online identities. When you can, connect with them in person. Networking can start online, but when done in person, it strengthens your relationships and can give you bigger opportunities in the future.
My biggest tip of all is to bring your online brand to life. Whatever you put online should be a reflection of reality. Just in actual brand development, everything that is created to capture public attention must be dealt with according follow through. Remember that YOU created your brand, and not vice versa.